Not because it was necessary but as a tactic to void and abrogate all union contracts.
The cancelation of those union contracts was necessary, as Continental, at that point in time, was in big trouble financially, and it was deemed proper by the Bankruptcy Court.
Those
are the facts.
If you think otherwise...tell it to the Judge.
The 'forgiven' ALPO guys will be a problem with the 'merger', no doubt.